zanne

I am planning a honeymoon to SA, flying into Capetown from the US end of May. The dates for the vacation are May 26 leave US and return to US June 7, 2014.
Want to spend a couple of nights in Capetown, Safari for 2-3 nights then a warm beach the rest if the time. I have read that Capetown has beautiful beaches but it seems like it will be too cold to lay out and swim. Are there any islands someone can recommend that are not too far and out of the way for our return back to the US?

ekscrunchy

I will certainly be too cold to swim in or around Cape Town. It will be going into winter there.


Are you certain that you want to fly all the way there from the US and spend only two nights in Cape Town and 2-3 nights on safari? I'd recommend minimum of 4 nights in CapeTown with a day in the Winelands. Minimum of 4 nights at a game reserve, and I would include two reserves if possible, but you could substitute beach.


Do you have your airline tickets already and if so, what is the routing?

You might want to consider the islands off the coast of Mozambique.

Waht kind of budget do you have?

Odin

Kenya is a good destination for safari combined with beach holiday. Or Tanzania/Dar. The waters around Cape Town are cold even in summer, the beaches near Durban have warm water but I don't know if that would be true in winter, in any case the sea is rather rough and there are sharks.

It's too short a trip anyway.

Roccco

I'll be in South Africa that same time frame and elected for a stay at Thonga Beach Lodge. I combined it with a stay at another lodge by the same company for a discounted stay.

http://www.isibindiafrica.co.za/mabibi/index.htm

Nothing near Cape Town at that time of year will offer warm beaches.

baraca

Thonga Beach Lodge, or Rocktail Beach, both in Kwazulu Natal would fit into your plans. Here is a suggestion of an itinerary that a couple of my clients did at about the same time of the year, and this itinerary can be done in reverse: Fly to Cape Town and spend at least 4 days to truly enjoy this beautiful city. Then fly via Durban to Richards Bay. Do the safari in Phinda Private game reserve. Suggested lodge: Vlei - totally romantic. Then a few days at one of the above lodges and then fly back to Johannesburg and back home. As indicated, this can work well in reverse order, with the first night in Johannesburg and then starting out to Richards Bay, etc.

Good luck, sounds heavenly!!

LewRood

I think the response from Baraca is excellent. Its your honeymoon, so in Cape Town depending on your budget, look at somewhere like Cape View, in the seaside suburb of Clifton, if you need to spend a night in Johannesburg, look at somewhere like AtholPlace in the suburb of Atholl, and if in Cape Town and you decide to spend a night in the Cape Winelands, look at somewhere like The Lighthouse in Paarl to overnight.

zanne

Thank you. This is the tentative plan. Flying from Atlanta to Capetown, 5 - 6 nights in CPN, then probably 1 night in wine area. From there safari, don't know where yet. Fly back to Chicago from wherever we do safari, prob Joberg. We have 11 days and a $10K budget and we are 29 years old. Love food and adventure. So far planning on Cape Point tour, Boulders beach, Chapmans Peak Dr, Table Mtn and Lions Head, shark diving.
Looking at staying in Camps Bay. Looking for safari suggestions on a private game reserve (s).
Will forgo the beach!

Thinking that we should do a package for Safari and interior air and transport.


Open for suggestions !

ekscrunchy

Does $10,000 budget include air from US?

zanne

Yes, if possible, ekscrunchy. Or at least close to it.

Roccco

Zanne,

I put together the following late May - June itinerary for my wife, daughter and I for under $9000 USD which I am very pleased about:

AIR: Los Angeles - Durban (with stops in London and Johannesburg)(14 month old daughter potentially sitting in our lap).

Rental Car, 15 Days, self drive for duration.

Durban, 3 nights at private furnished apartment on the beach through AirBNB. I'm running the Comrades Marathon to start the trip and it finishes in Durban and starts 55 miles away in Pietermaritzberg (sp.?) www.airbnb.com

Isibindi Zulu Lodge, 2 nights. http://www.isibindiafrica.co.za/izl/index.htm

Leopard Mountain Lodge, 3 nights. http://www.leopardmountain.co.za/

Thonga Beach Lodge, 4 nights (one night for free by combining with sister lodge, Isibindi Zulu Lodge). http://www.isibindiafrica.co.za/mabibi/index.htm

Mkuze Falls Private Game Reserve (purchased 3 night package on LuxuryLink.com for about a 40% savings). http://www.mkuzefalls.com/

I've stayed at the very best lodges in the past in South Africa in more fruitful economic times but if I was more mature and more knowledgeable in the past, I'd go with an itinerary like the above, every time, rather than blowing so much dough on the Singita type lodges of South Africa. I don't expect the game viewing to be of the Singita level but I am still expecting that it will be more than adequate.

With the exception of Mkuze Falls, which I bought a 3 night package on Luxury Link, the other bookings were directly with the lodges and they'll often give freebies that make it worthwhile and plus gives a warm fuzzy feeling that you are dealing direct.

My own itinerary is designed so that it is never more than about a 3 hour drive between places.

I think you can get well under $10k spent while staying at some nice places.

Hope this helps.

zanne

Thanks Rocco! Will look at this.

zanne

This is a proposal presented to me, anyone familiar with these places?
4-5 nights in Cape Town
Staying at PODS in Camps Bay
Fly to Durban
3 nights at Phinda Forest Lodge in a suite
3 nights at Rocktail Bay Beach Camp

Has anyone heard of Mosaic Safaris?

Roccco

Phinda and Rocktail Bay Beach Camp are both very well regarded. Not familiar with PODS. My favorite hotel in Cape Town and one of my favorite in the world, is the Twelve Apostles Hotel. http://www.12apostleshotel.com/